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Maintaining an Indoor Wood Burning Stove Wood stoves are a cozy and economical way to heat your home. However, they can also release pollutant-laden gases and harmful pollutants into indoor air if poorly installed, laden with too much fuel, or venting to chimneys or flues that are in state of disrepair. Modern wood stoves are constructed with more clean fuels and less pollutants generated by their secondary combustion process. They have dampers in the interior portion of the flue pipe that can be rotatably opened or closed. Efficient Heat Production Nothing is more relaxing than cuddling on the sofa next to an inviting fireplace, which increases the comfort of a room. A wood stove is more than just an energy source. It also helps reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and provides an alternative for heating your home. Wood stoves are available in various sizes to fit in different spaces, delivering the appropriate amount of heat and efficiency. They are rated according to their British Thermal Units, or BTU, output, and some have features that can help increase efficiency, like baffle systems or secondary combustion chambers. In addition, some models are equipped with insulation that holds heat for longer to ensure greater efficiency. Highly efficient stoves convert a larger proportion of wood into heat, reducing wood consumption and emissions. The use of seasoned or dried wood can also boost efficiency since it burns more quickly and produces less smoke. A proper installation regular maintenance, and the correct operation can maximize the efficiency of energy and environmental performance. It is important to control the air flow in your stove in order to ensure optimum combustion. You can do this by changing the primary vent, and using the secondary vent to control the flames. The primary vent should be open all the way when starting the fire and then slowly closed once the fire has started. If you open the vent too early, it will cause massive flames that can overwhelm the secondary vent, which is necessary to reduce the amount of combustion and particulate emissions. Use only clean, seasoned firewood for your stove. Other kinds of wood such as varnished and painted products can result in high levels of pollution or dangerously high temperatures. Wood briquettes should also never be burned in your stove because they are usually made with chemicals and additives that may be hazardous to your health or damage the interior of your stove. In addition to ensuring proper installation and maintenance, it is crucial to have your chimney inspected and cleaned regularly. Soot and creosote buildup can drastically reduce the performance of your stove and could also be a fire hazard for your home. Aesthetically pleasing Wood stoves are more than just a source of warmth. They also serve as a focal-point for your home and give it an inviting feel. You can also get some exercise by chopping wood for your stove. You can also save money on your electricity bills and they can also be used to back up the power in case of a power cut. They are a renewable source, which is more sustainable for the environment than fossils fuels. They can also make your home more self-sufficient. In terms of aesthetics, wood burning stoves are available in a range of styles and colors that match any style of decor. While black is the most popular option, coloured stoves such as ones with rich browns and terracotta shades offer a contemporary touch to the room. The darker hues are more easy to maintain, as they hide marks and dirt better. If you are looking for a smaller design, you might think about a rectangular wood stove. These stoves typically come with glass on three sides and can be incorporated into small spaces. They are perfect for converting a garage into an living space. They are available as free-standing units or are installed with twin wall flue systems. You can pick a larger wood-burning fireplace to accommodate larger homes. They have a huge heating capacity of more than 8kW, making them suitable for big family homes and open plan living areas. They tend to be more industrial-looking and can be fitted to double-walled or single-walled systems. They also have secondary burn and catalytic technologies that redirect unburned gases from the logs into flames, instead of them going up the chimney. This means that you'll have less smoke in your room, which is beneficial for those with hypersensitive asthma or respiratory condition. It's important to calculate the average heating needs of your space prior to buying a fireplace that burns wood. This will help you select the right size stove to heat your space and prevent over-heating or under-heating. It is a an easy calculation. Multiply the cubic metre volume of your space by 14. This will provide you with an estimate of your heating requirement. Affordability A wood stove in the home is a great way to lower your heating expenses. Wood stoves produce heat using firewood, which is a renewable source of energy. They're also more affordable than other forms of energy such as electricity and gas. It's crucial to know the costs of buying and maintaining a wood stove before making the investment. Although the initial cost of a wood-burning stove is expensive, once it's installed and used regularly your monthly expenses are likely to decrease dramatically. In fact, if switching from a gas stove to a wood stove, you might be saving up to $1000 per year. In addition to reducing your heating expenses and lowering your heating bills, a wood-burning stove inside will give you back-up warmth in the event of an electrical failure. Fireplaces & Stoves is an excellent feature to have in winter storms when it can be hard to keep your home warm without electricity. Take into consideration the size and capacity of a wood stove before choosing one to ensure it will warm your home properly. You will need to measure the square footage of the area you wish to heat and then follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer to determine the amount of BTUs are needed. You should also take into consideration the amount of insulation and layout of your home and the climate in which you live. Wood stoves are available in a variety of styles and designs, so you're certain to find one that complements your decor. Modern stoves are often built with a sleek and contemporary style that can add to the appearance of your living space and still provide warmth and utility. There are also stoves that are compliant with EPA emission standards. They are typically marked with a label that identifies which set of emission standards they comply with. To lower your emissions and avoid harmful air pollution it is important to purchase an appliance that has been certified by the EPA. Easy Maintenance Wood stoves are an efficient and natural way to heat your home. However, they do require a certain level of maintenance to keep them functioning properly. You'll have to put in time and effort in sourcing splitting, stacking and transporting the wood you'll use to fire up your stove, in addition to cleaning and maintaining the stove itself and its chimney. These extra tasks can be a challenge for some homeowners. There are ways to reduce the amount of maintenance needed for your wood burning stove to ensure it lasts longer and functions better. To maintain your stove effectively, you need to create a routine cleaning schedule. Ideally you should clean your stove fortnightly or every month in winter when it's always in use. Begin by vacuuming all exterior surfaces of your stove using a soft-bristle attachment. Be sure to get into all joints and crevices, as well as air intakes. Be gentle when cleaning the heat-sensitive parts of the stove. Next, you must clean the exterior surfaces using a non-toxic, non-chemical cleaning product similar to the one that came with the stove. Last but not least, empty the pans of ash and sift them regularly. This task can be made simpler by spritzing water on the top layer of ash. You may need to remove all the ash from your stove periodically to check the bricks or ensure that the bottom of your firebox is clear. Keeping the ash tray and pan full can cause your wood stove to overheat, which is why it's essential that you empty them when needed. It is also important to check the glass and gasket regularly especially after a few small fires. A poor seal can significantly affect the process of burning, causing gases to be leaking into your living space. A tarred stove glass can also mean that your wood isn't burning properly usually due to an insufficient draft or lighting the fire in a wrong way. It's also a good idea to employ a professional chimney sweep twice every year to prevent the build-up of creosote as well as other harmful deposits. Keep combustibles out of your wood heater as they may be ignited if placed too close.